The Bears, who also won their third straight D-II title on Oct. 27, now focus their attention on the New England championships Saturday in Cumberland, Maine. The boys race is at 11:30 a.m. followed by the girls race at 12:30 p.m. Coe-Brown was third last year, the best finish in school history.

And Katie Scannell, who has battled back from an early-season hip injury to be a key contributor. She ran fifth at the D-II meet, behind Danis (3rd) and Parker (1st).

“Both Brooke and Lis were amazing,” Tkaczyk said. “And Katie Scannell comes in the top-10, so that was the key to it. That's been our depth throughout the year.”

Carney, a junior, has battled a virus for several weeks, and Parker is trying to overcome a stomach virus, which caused her to fade at the end of the MOC from top-five to 13th.

“Everyone else stepped up, so we still ran well,” Carney said. “Hannah and I have been the leaders all year long. And now that we need help they're stepping up at the right time.”

“It's definitely helped that my confidence is back these last couple races,” Katie Scannell said. “It's important with racing to be confident with yourself and just go out there and do your job.”

Coe-Brown's scoring runners all season have been a combination of underclassmen: three freshmen, two sophomores and a junior. Senior Katelyn Terry rounds out the top seven.

The stomach virus hit Coe-Brown during the week and the team was hoping it would run its course by Friday, possibly allowing Parker's health to improve and for her to be ready.

“What we've been saying all year is that we've never had a really solid No. 1,” Tkaczyk said. “It's been a group. That's what's been amazing about our team.”

“The two freshmen and Katie are propelling this team and it's exciting,” said co-coach Tim Cox. “Part of our plan with Jessie and Hannah on Saturday is to work off that three's strengths. Hopefully that last mile will kick in.”

Although just freshmen, Danis and Laskowsky were experienced runners coming into the season. Danis comes from Nottingham, where Parker and the Scannells hail from.

Laskowsky is from Deerfield, and her presence on Coe-Brown's team has an element of luck involved. Deerfield has an agreement with Concord High School to send most of its students there. There is an exception. Deerfield has a lottery, which allows a small percentage of its graduating eighth-graders to attend Coe-Brown. Laskowsky was one of three lottery winners.

“That's some serious luck,” Tkaczyk added.

“I've been trying hard,” Laskowsky said. “I've had help from everyone on the team and the coaches are fantastic.”

“The last couple of races we've been trying really hard to push ourselves so we can help the team win,” Danis added.

The third freshman is Meg Scannell, who is trying to come back from a hip injury that has slowed her down the past two races.

Moving forward, the 3.1-mile Maine course at Twin Brook Recreation Area is more to the Bears' liking than the Nashua course, which is flat and fast.

“It's not going to be fast,” Tkaczyk said. “There's going to be some mud out there, rolling hills. Similar to our course. Similar to Thetford (Vermont), where there are a lot of tight turns. We loved it.”

It was at Thetford last month that the Bears beat defending New England champion Champlain Valley Union (Vt.) 54 to 70. Carney, Parker and Danis finished 6, 7, 8, and Laskowsky and Katie Scannell were 14th and 19th.

CVU's top two runners, Taylor Spillane and Autumn Eastman, finished 1-2, but after that they placed 12th, 23rd and 32nd.

“It's a similar blueprint,” Cox said. “I'm not sure they've been able to close that gap that we sort of exposed between their three and their four. We know Champlain and we know we can beat them and compete with them and finish really well on Saturday.”

Coe-Brown will go into Saturday's race as the highest rated New England team according to the most recent high school cross country poll (Nov. 8) from The Running Times. The Bears are ranked fourth in the Northeast, which includes all the New England states, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Barrington, R.I., is fifth, Champlain Valley is eighth and Whitman-Hanson, Mass., is ninth. Pennsbury, Pa., is ranked first.

Massachusetts does not compete in the New England meet.

“Brent and I were kind of reminding ourselves these kids should celebrate,” Cox added. “They've achieved a lot in a very short time, especially with how young a team it is.”

Cox stressed the need to enjoy the sport and the moments like the Bears have experienced the past several weeks.

“We thought we were a little too nervous (last week) and that's not having fun,” he said. “We have to remind them that this is a sport and it's not the end of the world if you don't do well. That's first and foremost what we reminded them.

“It's exciting,” Cox added. “Every week with its level of competition we want them to embrace it and not step away from it. It's an opportunity not a lot of teens have. We want to take advantage of the opportunity and represent New Hampshire well.”

Which means sticking to what has worked with this group.

“That's pack running and running together,” Cox said. “Always knowing you're not by yourself. And if you are by yourself, find that red shirt and be with that teammate because there's more power in numbers.”

“I'm talking about seven people,” Tkaczyk added. “When you get five of them to run at their best is very rare. That's the challenge and whoever does that on Saturday, that's the team that comes out on top.”